鈥渁re waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,鈥� the country鈥檚 parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said.
Qalibaf added: 鈥淥ur firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased.鈥�
The comments came as to discuss how to end the fighting in the Middle East as about 2,500 U.S. Marines arrived in the region and entered the .
The war has threatened , sparked and disrupted air travel. Iran鈥檚 grip on the strategic has shaken markets and prices.
The Houthis鈥� entry could further hurt global shipping if they again target vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the world鈥檚 trade typically passes.
Here is the latest:
Latest reports of live fire
Australia cuts fuel taxes to offset war-driven price spikes
Australia has halved its taxes on gasoline and diesel and removed a tax on heavy vehicles to counter the economic impacts of soaring fuel prices.
The government announced on Monday it expects the tax reductions will cost federal coffers 2.55 billion Australian dollars ($1.74 billion) over three months.
Taxes on gasoline and diesel will be halved to 26.3 Australian cents a liter (68.2 cents a gallon) from Wednesday. The heavy vehicle road user charge of 32.4 Australian cents per liter of diesel (84.1 cents a gallon) that truck and bus operators pay to compensate for the added damage they cause roads will be removed.
Tasmania state introduced free public transport on Monday to reduce private vehicle use and Victoria state will remove public transport fees from Wednesday.
Trump calls Sunday a 鈥榖ig day in Iran鈥� in Truth Social post
鈥淢any long sought after targets have been taken out and destroyed by our GREAT MILITARY, the finest and most lethal in the World,鈥� U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social website, without elaborating.
Benchmark Brent crude tops $116 a barrel in trading early Monday
Brent crude was just over $70 a barrel when the war started on Feb. 28. Prices have spiked by over 50% since.
Kuwait says 1 killed in Iranian attack on power, water plant
Kuwait said early Monday an Iranian attack on a power and desalination plant in the small, oil-rich nation killed an Indian worker there.
The statement carried by the state-run KUNA news agency did not identify the plant targeted.
Authorities said power and water supplies remained constant despite the attack.
Desalination plants remain crucial to water supplies in the Gulf Arab states. Iranian attacks already have damaged some facilities.
Trump suggests US could take Iran鈥檚 Kharg Island
U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the idea of American forces seizing Iran鈥檚 Kharg Island, its main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
The comment by Trump came in an interview published early Monday by The Financial Times.
鈥淢aybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don鈥檛. We have a lot of options,鈥� Trump told the newspaper. 鈥淚t would also mean we had to be there (on Kharg Island) for a while.鈥�
Asked about Iranian defenses there, he said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think they have any defense. We could take it very easily.鈥�
The U.S. already launched airstrikes once it said targeted military positions on the island. Iran has threatened to launch its own ground invasion of Gulf Arab countries and new attacks if U.S. troops land on its territory.
Trump says Iran鈥檚 parliament speaker authorized tankers to pass Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump says that Iran鈥檚 parliament speaker authorized the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
The comment by Trump in an interview published early Monday by The Financial Times is the latest signal by the Americans of Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf鈥檚 importance within Iran鈥檚 theocracy.
鈥淭hey gave us 10鈥� Pakistani-flagged tankers, he said. 鈥淣ow they鈥檙e giving 20 and the 20 have already started and they鈥檙e going right up the middle of the Strait.鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 the one who authorized the ships to me,鈥� Trump told the newspaper about Qalibaf. 鈥淩emember I said they鈥檙e giving me a present? And everyone said: 鈥榃hat鈥檚 the present?鈥� … When they heard about that they kept their mouth shut and the negotiations are going very well.鈥�
Qalibaf has maintained a combative personality through his X account in the war, mocking the Americans and issuing threats. But the former Revolutionary Guard commander has seen his profile rise as senior members of its theocracy have been killed.
Trump says US is negotiating with Iran 鈥榙irectly and indirectly鈥�
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to allow 20 ships carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning and continuing over the next few days 鈥渙ut of a sign of respect.鈥�
鈥淚 would only say that we鈥檙e doing extremely well in that negotiation but you never know with Iran because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up,鈥� Trump told reporters Sunday night board Air Force One as he flew to Washington.
Trump was asked if Iran had responded to the 15-point ceasefire plan the U.S. has proposed and he said, they did and added: 鈥淭hey gave us most of the points. Why wouldn鈥檛 they?鈥�
But Trump didn鈥檛 offer details when asked about Iran, by his telling, appearing to make major concessions.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e agreeing with us on the plan,鈥� Trump said.
He also said Iran鈥檚 new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei 鈥渕ay be alive but he鈥檚 obviously, very seriously in trouble. He鈥檚 seriously wounded.鈥�
UN peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon
A U.N. peacekeeper was killed and another critically wounded when a projectile exploded in their position near a village in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL said in a statement very early Monday.
The statement said the 鈥渙rigin of the projectile鈥� was unknown.
The hilly frontier zone where has seen decades of cross-border violence.
Israel and Lebanon鈥檚 Hezbollah militants fought a full-scale war in 2024 and are fighting again since Hezbollah joined Iran at firing into Israel in the current war. across the border into Lebanon.
Israel says it thwarted 2 attacks against troops in West Bank
Israeli soldiers shot at two men who they assessed were posing a threat to them in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank overnight, killing one and 鈥渘eutralizing鈥� the other, Israel鈥檚 military said early Monday.
According to the military鈥檚 statement, one man armed with a knife ran toward soldiers near Dura, in the southern West Bank, and was killed. Another accelerated toward them in his vehicle near a village just north of Jerusalem, and troops also fired at him.
Israel approves 鈥榣imited prayer framework鈥� at Holy Sepulchre
Israel鈥檚 police said it had approved a 鈥渓imited prayer framework鈥� to open worship at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem as the sacred season of Holy Week gets underway.
Major sites holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem鈥檚 Old City during the Iran war because of safety considerations. Earlier this month, shrapnel from the interception of an Iranian missile fell on a rooftop just steps from the church, which Christians revere as the place where Jesus was crucified.
But criticism surged from around the world Sunday after a tiny group of Catholic faith leaders from entering the church in order to celebrate a private Mass on the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday.
The police announcement said authorities had worked with a representative of , the Latin Patriarch whose entry they had barred, and more details on what activities would be permitted would be forthcoming.
Israeli air force intercepts 2 drones launched from Yemen
Israel鈥檚 military said that its air force had intercepted two drones launched from Yemen early Monday morning.
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching their first attack in the current war — a missile fired at Israel, which was also intercepted — early on Saturday morning.
Petrochemical facility struck in Iran’s north
Iranian media reported early Monday that one of the facilities of Tabriz Petrochemical was struck in a northern province of the country. They said no hazardous materials had been released.
The company takes oil or natural gas and processes them into chemical products used to make everyday materials like plastics and chemicals.
Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard says it will target residences of US and Israeli officials
Iran鈥檚 joint military command spokesperson declared on Sunday that the private residences of U.S. and Israeli officials have now become legitimate targets for Iran, as the war in the Middle East enters its first month and continues to widen across the region.
The threat was aimed at U.S. and Israeli military and political officials living in the Middle East, including Israel.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari said that this decision has been made after the U.S. and Israel have targeted residential homes of Iranians in various cities across Iran.
Military says Iran launched more missiles at Israel
Israel鈥檚 military on Sunday night said Iran had launched another salvo of missiles at the country. Sirens went off in the Beersheba area, which has been targeted repeatedly in the last days.
Israel says it hit Tehran with more munitions; Iran says power restored in capital
Late on Sunday, Israel鈥檚 military said that over the past 24 hours its fighter jets had dropped more than 120 munitions in Tehran, targeting sites used for weapons research, development and production.
Around the same time, Iran鈥檚 state television said power was back in areas of Tehran that had experienced outages.
IAEA reports severe damage to Iran鈥檚 Khondab heavy water production plant
The U.N. nuclear watchdog said Sunday that satellite imagery confirmed severe damage to the Khondab heavy water production plant near Arak
The International Atomic Energy Agency added that the installation has no declared nuclear material. Iran鈥檚 Atomic Energy Organization reported on Friday that the facility was hit and Israel claimed responsibility for the strike.
Since the war began a month ago, several strikes targeted nuclear sites across Iran.
Foreign ministers depart after talks in Islamabad
The foreign ministers of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt departed late Sunday night for their respective capitals after attending a meeting convened by Pakistan to review progress in bringing the United States and Iran to the negotiating table to end war in the region, the ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
It gave no further details.
Pakistan earlier said that top diplomats from Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia would visit Islamabad from March 29 to 30 for in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.
ADAMA pesticide company says warehouse damaged in Iranian missile attack
An agriculture company that produces pesticides in southern Israel said it suffered damage to a warehouse on Sunday.
Israel鈥檚 Fire and Rescue Services responded to a massive blaze that began around 3:30 p.m. from an Iranian missile or shrapnel fragments. The company, ADAMA, said the damage was at its Makhteshim plant in Neot Hovav, on the outskirts of Beersheba, and there was no damage to production facilities.
ADAMA said its workers evacuated according to instructions from the emergency services. Israel鈥檚 Fire and Rescue said the evacuation included the immediate plant as well as a nearby highway and the evacuation was lifted after about an hour.
Dramatic footage after the strike showed pillars of smoke and billowing flames reaching high into the sky. There were no injuries, according to Israel鈥檚 rescue services.
Iran鈥檚 supreme leader applauds Iraq鈥檚 stance in the war
In a message attributed to Iran鈥檚 Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, he expressed his appreciation to senior religious authorities in Iraq for their supportive stance toward Iran during the war, according to two semi-official Iranian news agencies.
Since he was named third supreme leader of Iran, Khamenei has made no public appearance, but has conveyed only rare messages.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq have claimed responsibility for several attacks on U.S. bases in the country in solidarity with Tehran.
US embassy warns of potential attacks on universities in Iraq
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, in a statement posted on X Sunday, warned that Iran and allied militias 鈥渕ay intend to target the American Universities in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk, along with other universities perceived to be associated with the United States,鈥� after Iran threatened American universities across the Middle East.
The statement added that Iran and affiliated militias have already carried out 鈥渨idespread attacks on U.S. citizens, targets associated with the United States throughout Iraq鈥� and the 鈥淚raqi government has not prevented terrorist attacks against the United States and regional countries from Iraqi territory.鈥�
It reiterated a warning for U.S. citizens to leave the country.
Many universities around the region have already moved to teaching online since the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Iran reports power outages after attacks
Iran鈥檚 energy ministry says power was cut in Tehran and Alborz provinces after attacks on electricity facilities. The state media reports late Sunday did not say who attacked.
Pakistani foreign minister says his country will host talks between US and Iran
Pakistan鈥檚 foreign minister says Islamabad soon will host talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made the announcement Sunday. He did not specify whether the talks would be direct or indirect. There was no immediate word from the U.S. or Iran.
鈥淧akistan is very happy that both Iran and the U.S. have expressed their confidence in Pakistan鈥檚 facilitation鈥� of the talks, which will happen in the 鈥渃oming days,鈥� Dar said in a televised speech after top diplomats from regional countries met in Islamabad.
He said the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia endorsed Pakistan鈥檚 peace efforts. The ministers are expected to meet again Monday.
Pakistan has emerged as a mediator, having relatively good ties with both Washington and Tehran. Pakistani officials have said their public effort follows weeks of quiet diplomacy.
American University of Beirut moves classes online after Iran threats to US-affiliated campuses
The announcement from the university in the heart of the Lebanese capital comes as American universities and schools across the Mideast fear strikes that may target their facilities.
President Fadlo Khuri in an announcement Sunday said it was a precautionary measure and that there was 鈥渘o evidence of direct threats鈥� to the prestigious university and its renowned hospital.
鈥淭he American University of Beirut has stood for the peaceful emancipation and progress of the people we educate and serve for more than a century and a half,鈥� said Khuri.
The threat from Iran鈥檚 elite Revolutionary Guard comes after comes after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on two campuses in the Islamic Republic.
Top US oil industry official presses for quick action to reopen strait
The head of the U.S. oil and natural industry鈥檚 top lobbying group says 鈥渢he only real solution鈥� to rising energy and consumer prices as a result of the war with Iran is to get the Strait of Hormuz open.
鈥淚f we can do that this week with targeted regime actions, I think we have to take that opportunity because it鈥檚 only going to get worse over time,鈥� said Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute.
Sommers told Fox 海角社区app Channel鈥檚 鈥淭he Sunday Briefing鈥� that 鈥渢hat artery has to be reopened and fast鈥� because 鈥渢he longer this goes on, the higher prices are going to go.鈥�
Sommers is also troubled by the entry of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
鈥淚f the Houthis start attacking ships going through the Red Sea, that could really put us on the cusp of a major energy crisis throughout the world. That is a top concern this week, as well,鈥� he says.
Death toll in Lebanon exceeds 1,200 people in ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah
Over 3,500 people were also wounded since the start of this latest military escalation, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Among the killed are 52 health workers.
Israel launched intense airstrikes over Lebanon after the Hezbollah militant group fired rockets toward northern Israel in solidarity with Iran on March 2.
Since then,towardne milltowardanese have been displaced as Israeli ground forces continue an invasion into southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu says Israel will widen its invasion of southern Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that Israel will widen its invasion of southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu said Israel would expand what he called the 鈥渆xisting security strip鈥� in Lebanon as Israeli forces continue to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
鈥淲e are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north,鈥� he said on a visit to northern Israel, adding that 鈥淗ezbollah still has residual capability to fire rockets at us.鈥�
There were no immediate details.
In Lebanon, officials say more than 1,100 people have been killed in the fighting since the Iran war began.
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Expert says world economy is a 鈥榗risis point鈥� as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen open new front in war
The Houthis joined the war over the weekend with a missile attack on Israel. Their entry has raised concerns that they could resume attacks on vessels in the Red Sea further disrupting the global shipping industry and sending oil prices much higher.
Nomi Bar-Yaacov, fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, said the Houthis鈥� potential disruption of oil export in the Red Sea will create a 鈥減oint where we have not been before.鈥�
At this time, both the Homuz and Bab al-Mandab straits will be closed, she said.
鈥淎ll eyes are on the mediation, but the oil crisis is, I think, at an unprecedented state,鈥� she said.
Kuwait鈥檚 top diplomat blasts Iran鈥檚 destabilization of the region
Kuwait鈥檚 Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Sabah said Sunday that what the region is witnessing is 鈥渟ystematic pattern of undermining regional stability led by Iran鈥�, as the monthlong war continues to destabilize the region.
In a statement reported by the state-run Kuna news agency, Al Sabah said that Iran is destabilizing the region through 鈥渆xploiting chaos and terrorism as tools of influence.鈥�
Kuwait鈥檚 Armed Forces said Sunday that projectile attacks injured 10 members of its forces, and its Defense Ministry said that the warehouses of a private logistics company were hit, resulting in only material damage, as the country intercepted 26 other Iranian missiles and drones over the past 24 hours.
Also on Sunday, Qatar and Bahrain said that they intercepted missiles and drones launched toward them.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy arrives in Jordan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Jordan Sunday, part of his tour of Gulf Arab states as Kyiv continues to offer its to help governments blunt Iranian attacks during .
鈥淪ecurity is the top priority, and it is important that all partners make the necessary efforts toward it. Ukraine is doing its part. Important meetings ahead,鈥� Zelenskyy wrote on his social media channels, alongside a video that showed him arriving by air.
Jordan鈥檚 state news agency reported that Zelenskyy would meet with King Abdullah II for talks on regional developments and bilateral relations.
Hundreds gather in central Istanbul for protest against US and Israel
Nearly a thousand people gathered in central Istanbul Sunday afternoon despite heavy rains to protest the ongoing conflicts in Iran, Lebanon and Palestine.
Organized by several religious conservative NGOs, the rally featured slogans like, 鈥淩esist, Gaza will prevail鈥� and 鈥淢uslims don鈥檛 bow to oppression,鈥� as well as signs saying, 鈥淜iller Israel, Killer United States鈥� and criticizing the Israeli closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
鈥淲e are here for all the oppressed in the world. Lebanon, Iran, Palestine, yesterday it was Venezuela, tomorrow it will probably be Cuba, we are here for all of them,鈥� protester Mehmet Yilmaz told The Associated Press.
鈥淲hen Iran launches a missile, despite claiming no one can hurt them with their Iron Dome, they (Israelis) all scurry into their holes like mice the second the sirens blare,鈥� Ekrem Saylan told AP. 鈥淲hat do the Iranians do? They take to the streets. This is about belief, faith. If they (Israelis) had faith they wouldn鈥檛 be afraid of death.鈥�
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This story was first published on March 29, 2026. It was updated on March 30, 2026, to correct the name of the site in Israel where a warehouse was damaged in a missile attack. It is Neot Hovav, not Ramot Hovav.
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